Civil Servants, Salaries, and the Rising Cost of Living: A Zambian Reality Check
ZIT-08/02/2026 Today, Zambia finds itself in a painful economic contradiction. Official reports tell us that the Kwacha is gaining strength against major convertible currencies and that the economy is on the mend. Yet, for civil servants—the backbone of our public service—the lived reality tells a far different story. The recent K700 salary increase for civil servants has been presented as a sign of progress. But in an era of rising meal prices, high fuel costs, expensive transport, and unaffordable rent, K700 barely scratches the surface. For many, it does little to restore purchasing power and even less to improve living standards. Inflation and the Cost of Living Zambia’s annual inflation stood at 10.9% in late 2025 , meaning prices for food, transport, fuel, and basic services have been increasing faster than salaries. Even with the K700 increment, civil servants are earning less in real terms than they were previously. This is not progress—it is an illusion of economi...
